Hits & Misses: Diverse beauty & high-salt diets
Question of the Week: I’d like to repot my houseplants; what do I need to know?
Science & Technology: Going to great heights for heat-loving edibles

I’m going to be in the Guinness World Records! OK, my name won’t actually appear in the book per se…but I will have the satisfaction of knowing I participated in the world’s largest dodge ball game along with 1,199 University of Alberta students, staff and friends. Together we smashed the old record of 450 set by San Diego State University. As president of the U of A Alumni Association, I was thrilled to be part of the record-setting event, which you can check out on YouTube ). I even managed to take out two opposing-team members in last Friday’s competition, before suffering a shot to my left elbow. I also managed to nail an innocent bystander with an errant throw. Sorry about that…whoever you are.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Diverse Beauty
Orchids are endlessly fascinating. Besides being beautiful, the range of shapes and colours in this plant group is truly remarkable. Currently, we have a display of orchid species that highlights this amazing diversity. If you’ve never tried to grow orchids, don’t be put off by their undeserved reputation of being difficult to grow. True, some do need specialized care. But many, such as Phalaenopsis, Oncidiums and Paphiopedilums, are easy to grow. To succeed, give these orchids bright indirect sunlight and avoid overwatering.

Miss: High-salt Diets
As spring approaches—yes, I promise it’s coming—our sidewalks and driveways inevitably accumulate a fair bit of ice. Now, while de-icing salts are very efficient at making slippery steps safer, they’re also very efficient at killing plants. No matter what the label says, de-icing salts will kill plants if applied at excessive rates. To avoid damage, use as little salt as possible. While not perfect, sand is a good alternative and won’t harm any plants when it gets into lawns or flowerbeds. Just remember, humans aren’t the only species that suffer from diets too high in salt.

Question of the Week
I’d like to repot my houseplants; what do I need to know?
Water the plant the day before you repot; it will soften the roots and make them easier to manipulate. Next, tip the plant out of the container and into your hand (or onto a drop cloth if it’s too large to hold). Gently loosen bound roots, and use scissors to cut away any damaged roots. Place 3–4 cm of good-quality potting soil into the bottom of the new, one-size-larger pot. Then, gently place the plant into the pot. Add or remove soil so that the plant sits at the same height as it did in the original pot. Fill around the plant with additional soil. Tap the pot so the soil settles, but don’t pack down the soil. Finally, thoroughly water the plant.

Science & Technology
Going to Great Heights for Heat-loving Edibles
High tunnels sound like things trains roll through in the Rockies. But the ones I’m referring to are structures designed to extend the growing season for market garden operations. High tunnels, at their simplest, are tall metal hoops anchored into the ground and covered with clear plastic. So, what’s the difference between a high tunnel and a coldframe? Well, not that much. But, commercially built coldframes usually have a heater, whereas high tunnels don’t. As well, high tunnels are often made of less heavy-duty materials than coldframes. That means high tunnels are relatively cheap, easy-to-erect structures, which protect vegetable plants from poor weather and, simultaneously, provide extra heat to grow warm-season vegetables. Cucumbers, melons and sweet potatoes are examples of heat-lovers that benefit enormously from high tunnels. If you want to know more about high tunnels, check out hightunnels.org.

Did You Know?
Vanilla is extracted from the dried and fermented seedpods of an orchid. However, over 95 percent of all vanilla that’s consumed today is derived synthetically.

“Most marriages recognize this paradox: Passion destroys passion; we want what puts an end to wanting what we want.”
–John Fowles